A Cheerful Christmas in Bethlehem

Today I read an interesting article on Bethlehem's booming tourism this December and January as a more peaceful atmosphere returns to the West Bank. The most interesting thing I saw in the article was that 40% of Bethlehem's 32,000 residents are Christian, quite amazing since the town was comprised of 90% Muslims in the 1950's.

You can read more at:
Cheerful Christmas in Bethlehem

Nativity Video...enjoy!

Thanksgiving quotes

It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone in the institution seems to be thankful "in general." It's very strange. It's a little like being married in general.

Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.



Preoccupied with ourselves, we have lost the grace of being thankful. It is sad to live in a world where there is no one to thank because we have ourselves become the cause and source of all good things.

John Hannah
To God be the Glory, Crossway, 2000, p. 11.


A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.

Henry Ward Beecher


Love in Christ!

Gayle Williams....to the Greater Glory of God

I read a news report this morning of a 34 year old Christian aid worker in Afghanistan being killed for "spreading her religion". She was targeted by men full of hate for the witness she bore and the glory it gave God. Let us pray for her family in this time, and that her death may lead to many coming to the cross in that region because of the power of Christ in her.

Gayle Williams martyr


Love in Christ

Reformation...our great heritage

For those of you who aren't familiar with what all this Reformation stuff is...the video below is an overview. I notice so many of my friends on myspace who by their religion put "Christian other" when they are members of Protestant churches. Nothing bad about it, but I think it is so important to remember the history of the church, and those who have given their lives in devotion to the truth and purity of the gospel. We take it so for granted in our day, and I feel it is not a good thing to remove ourselves from the Christians of the past. I think that because we have forgotten where we come from, we have more allowed false teaching and world views into our lives and our churches.

Love in Christ

"Obama-ganda"

I am really quite disturbed at the Nazi-esque mindless mantras about Obama recently, some even praying to him, or at least placing him in a Messiah-type framework. See for yourself and decide. And no, I am not calling Obama the anti-Christ. I am simply saying Americans are becoming very susceptible to this kind of propaganda. And putting a man up that high has never in the history of the world been a good thing. To make myself clear, Christ is the only Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end, being very God of very God. He is the only One worthy of all our praise. We should never put any created thing, including any man or woman in His place. Wake up people!!

I think a couple are meant to be humerous, but lyrics are included for a few that were not. Note the militant chant at a SCHOOL by some young men touting "Alpha Omega". That's one reason why I homeschool folks.
Obamaganda




And last but not least....Obama's celebrity church, singing their prayer to Obama.

October is Protestant Reformation Month!!

What does that mean? That means we celebrate and remember those who stood firm under great persecution to preserve and spread the Holy Scriptures....those who stood up to tyranny and gave their lives in many cases to see the work of Christ continue to us.
Semper Reformanda!!!

Here is a video on why the Reformation and its teachings are important.

Going political......

Okay, so everyone in this nation has an opinion, and in the "everything's relative" culture, no one's opinions are taken seriously. But I have a few with the disclaimer that I am certain of my principles....my feelings not so much. I am a conservative independent...which probably puts me outside of the right wing/republican standard. I am an observer by nature...I loved the Canturbury tales in high school because it was all about observing people. And I've been observing the people of America, and the people running America.
To the degree that I have, I've discovered a few things...

1. Many people are choosing a candidate not because they agree with their platform, their abilities, or their policy on this or that, but based on totally inane reasons. These have included popularity, race, media, sex, feelings,ability to relate to "our culture", and the list goes on and on. This is a dangerous thing, because if these are the basis for choosing our leaders, because they know all the lyrics to kanye's latest hit, or I really like her glasses, then we carelessly cast our vote as if we are voting for prom king instead of the head of our military and the leader of our nation. Where are the Americans who know what they believe and vote according to their conscience? Here is a bonus 2 cents....when you take the name "Christian" in reference to yourself, you automatically have aligned yourself with the Bible in values, and Christ in character. To say that you are a Christian and to "hate the things God loves, and love the things God hates" is to cast yourself as a hypocrite.


2. On the bailouts.....what does everyone expect will happen when debt by the consumer is encouraged and enabled to the degree that it has been. "Give them more credit...it's good for the economy." But the problem is...American's are broke. Out of credit, paying thousands of dollars of debt payments, and scraping along. Even if you guys bail out the companies that have made their fortunes (and mishandled them) on the backs of the debt of the American people, this will not fix the problem. Americans can no longer spend money we don't have. Raise our taxes to save Merrill-Lynch? Even less money. Where is the accountability for these companies and the people that run them? No one is bailing out the average American's debt....and I'm not saying they should. What needs to happen is an all over proactive stance from the government to get out of debt and stay that way...some sort of incentive for being debt free. Then we will have money to spend. And for the companies who hock themselves to the eyeballs???? Tax THEM!!

You Are Loved

Free Bible Curriculum...yay!!

This is an awesome find!! I posted this on my homeschool blog, but felt it could fit here too. Free in printable PDF format, Puritan (reformed) curriculum K-12, including grammar, Bible, and more...all using scripture for the basis!! I wouldn't call it a complete curriculum for us, and I don't agree with the tone used in some areas, but I'm sure excited about adding some of it's elements to our homeschool...for the cost of some printer ink. If nothing else it could be used for discipleship at home. Enjoy!!

Puritans Curriculum

Hallelujah to the Lamb

Trials of the Christian

For the Christian, trials are expected. We understand as the people of God that difficult situations and hard times grow our faith and situate us closer to God. But there are times that we do not understand, or that we have suffered long and hard with no end in sight and the treasure of our hearts seems far and away from us. This is where I find myself today. I am writing this because I know there are other Christians who feel the same way sometimes. And because I am certain there will come a time when I will be able to post in rejoicing that the Lord has blessed all of this.

It is not an easy thing to admit to despair as a Christian. I wonder at times what we've done to bring this upon ourselves, and often have thoughts telling myself that God is perfectly within his rights to draw away His mercies from me because I don't deserve them anyway. We wonder if we have failed to learn something in the past trials or if we've made wrong decisions. I am really even unsure how to begin to pray about all of this. I know in my heart He hasn't gone anywhere, and His love is just as great today as it always has been, but in my ignorant humanity...what else can I say? We have been through a series of events in the last 6 years where I have seen major miracles in times of great distress and God's hand everywhere. But these tribulations seem to be picking up in speed and sequence, and there is no answer for when it will stop, or what it's all for to be found at this time. My husband and I have noted that seemingly every time our hope begins to be restored and we start climbing out of the ditch something else comes along to knock us back down there. It seems cyclic and constant for us. Constant health struggles with the bills to go with them. Constant little situations that all add up big. Constant distractions from and persecution for what God is calling us to do. Constant financial issues and guilt for past bad decisions in that area. And I suppose the hurricane this week, my husband's transmission breaking, our family being separated for days, Rob's bad work situation this week, being completely surrounded by water with almost no way out at my dads, my daughter's birthday being this week, and several other things have pushed me to where I find myself today....crying for hours and broken. The Lord has provided our needs in all of this, and I praise Him that today we are all well, home, and safe. I also thank Him that I'm not is some prison cell in North Korea for reciting a Bible passage.

So what do I do? Firstly, I remember those times where I watched in awe as God worked miracle after miracle in my family. I remember that He is good, He loves us, and He has never left us. Secondly, I have sought examples of other Christians who have been through severely difficult situations and their journeys of faith. Namely Job, David, and Paul. Then, I looked up tribulation in my bible dictionary...it says that it comes from the Hebrew "tsara" that means "narrow" or "compressed", and the Greek "thlipsis" meaning "severe constriction", "narrowing", or "pressing together". It says that the Latin "tribulum" (a threshing sledge) is similar in conveyance and meaning. (I'd say all that is an accurate description of how I feel today) It says also that tribulation is inevitable and expected in following Christ and that going through these tribulations are in effect sharing in the sufferings of Christ. And it says finally that tribulations transform us more into the image of Christ and teach us to comfort and encourage others going through various trials to persevere. Searching the scriptures always brings me comfort...so here I go.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Job 23:13-17
But He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him back? What He desires, that He does. For He will complete what He appoints for me, and many such things are in His mind. Therefore, I am terrified at His presence; when I consider, I am in dread of Him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.

Psalm 77:7-13
Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has His steadfast love forever ceased? Are His promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His compassion? Then I said, I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deeds of the Lord. Yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God is holy. What god is great like our God?

Love in Christ

Holiness

Preachers of the Past.....William Tyndale

Here is an actor portraying William Tyndale. It is really wonderful, and I hope to post a series of these. It does not finish his message, but I still love it.

Sufficiency of Scripture

Here are scriptures(ESV) and quotes on the sufficiency of the Scriptures. How much especially American Christianity has neglected to treat the Bible 1. as a whole and 2. As the very Word of God. I heard someone say that the scriptures are not a buffet line to take what we like and leave the rest. When we eat at the King's table, we should neither gripe nor complain about what is served.

2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

John 7:37
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."


Proverbs 30:5-6
"Every Word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar."


James 1:22
" But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, decieving yourselves."

Hebrews 4:12
"For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."





When the Word of God is not set up as the supreme authority, division is inevitable. Such happens even in evangelical churches, when pastors and other leaders begin substituting their own ideas for the truths of Scripture. The substitution is seldom intentional, but it will always happen when the Bible is neglected. A Bible that is not studied carefully cannot be followed carefully. And where it is not followed there will be division, because there will be no common ground for beliefs and practices. When the truth of Scripture is not the sole authority, men's varied opinions become the authority.
John MacArthur


The true Christian was intended by Christ to prove all things by the Word of God, all churches, all ministers, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices. These are his marching orders. Prove all by the Word of God; measure all by the measure of the Bible; compare all with the standard of the Bible; weigh all in the balances of the Bible; examine all by the light of the Bible; test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. This is the flag which he nailed to the mast. May it never be lowered!

John Wycliffe


Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convinced of error by the testimony of Scriptures or...by manifest reasoning I stand convicted by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's Word, I cannot and will not recant anything...On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me.

Martin Luther



There is nothing so deluding as feelings. Christians cannot live by feelings. Let me further tell you that these feelings are the work of Satan, for they are not right feelings. What right have you to set up your feelings against the Word of Christ.

C.H. Spurgeon


If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.

-Augustine of Hippo (354-430)



Love in Christ
Sola Scriptura

Quote for the day

"The elect are whosoever will, and the non-elect, whosoever won't."


Henry Ward Beecher

Family Driven Faith

This ministry has some wonderful ideas for the Christian families of our day and time.

Poetry

What a timely message. This is like the urban "Screwtape Letters"

Sunday School Reform

Rob and I share our opinion on this, and although we sure don't have all the answers, we are reformers at heart.

I think just about everyone in the SBC agrees that some kind of Sunday school reform needs to occur. But just what to do and how escapes us, and Baptists are so doggedly afraid of change that we can do no major reform in the area. Churches spend loads of money on programs to grow outreach and get people in there in the first place. While outreach is vitally important, I think we may be looking so squarely at one fixed microcosm that we fail to step back and see the big picture.

First...the problems I see. Christ gave so many parables about farming in relation to the church. Present day discipling methods/efforts result in quickly grown plans with shallow roots. It seems very much like watering dry plants with dust. Well what do I mean? We are not fans of Lifeway resources (gasp!). I have heard it described as mechanical, redundant, outdated, dry, etc. But the problem actually starts way before a family ever enters the church doors. In adult sunday school the premise is to equip the adults for living the christian life and serving the church...which is good. But something is blatantly missing to me. Why is the church not teaching parents about their responsibility in discipling their children? Our lesson yesterday was about the topic of a parent's responsibility in teaching their children about the things of God. One thing that happened was that a child said "my parents would never have time for that" and so on. Another thing I've noticed is that children are a lot of times discouraged from asking questions in sunday school (Matt. 19:13-14). This might be because our teachers are not confident enough to answer such questions.

My suggestions for change that needs to occur.

1. Have a Sunday school teacher course in each church where the teachers would learn the Baptist Faith and Message, and have a prayer session each year before the start of the new school year.

2. Provide with adult sunday school some sort of daily family devotional and accountability for the parents in discipling their children at home.


3. I suggest something like Group Publishing's FaithWeaver to encourage families to encounter Biblical discussion in the home.

Happy Pentecost Sunday

Seeker-Sensitive movement

I love these guys!

Post-Modernism and the Emergent Church

Need for Christ

The Indestructible Book

April already?

I have so neglected my blog the last few weeks, so I will try to lend something other than a video this week.


The idea of a truly sovereign God is void and dead in most churches today, and misused or misguided in many others. As a Baptist, I must say that for a people who started out with as clear of a picture of God's sovereignty and grace as any, we have now for a large part abandoned the idea nearly entirely. We seem to know that God can and does heal, that He does save sinners (though all of us do not have a clarity on how or how much is His own doing), that He does work in the world, etc. But so few of us seem to acknowledge His supreme and undoubted sovereign divinity. Indeed, I have witnessed that many of us "dyed-in-the-wool" Evangelicals behave as stubborn mules resisting the correction of scripture in lieu of our own traditions. Others of us allow a relationship with God "on our own terms" or a one-way relationship with Christ (eg. I read my Bible verses, I pray, I am on a committee, I work at the church). Jesus states in John 7:38-39 that one must believe in Him as the scripture states, not as one wishes to. I will dare say if God is not changing us with great frequency through His Word and/or the enemy is leaving us alone we need to examine ourselves in the light of scripture and see what is going wrong.

John 6:63-71
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe and who would betray Him. And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is the devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

There are a thousand teachings in just this portion of scripture. But this is what I'll say for now. Sometimes the church seems to be like Thomas Jefferson omitting the verses of the Bible that they don't agree with (only in our hearts). We are a selfish people wanting to appease ourselves and our fellow man. We are created to glorify God!! We have been reborn into love and unity among our bretheren. Where are the "compassionate,patient, kind, humble, and gentle" (Col. 3:12) people of God among us? Where are the bold, passionate, sin hating, faithful soldiers of Christ? We are there, but a remnant among those who call out "Lord, Lord". God almighty will never be your backseat driver. Salvation is on His terms according to His will, and orchestrated, authored, applied, granted, completed, and exacted according to His own pleasure and grace. Let us remember what we truly are...what we were before His hand stirred our souls so dead in sin. We were totally depraved sin loving God haters. Dare we doubt His Lordship? Have we like His peoples past forgotten the wonders of His work in our lives or the miracle of His hand moving in our path to show us His love? Let it never be.


Love in Christ

Grace Flows Down: video for Good Friday

Plain and Simple message

Regeneration/Carnal Christianity Paul Washer

I really don't think I can say it any better......worth 10 minutes.

Paul Washer

I know, I know....another video. I am learning the wonders of youtube. I can only hope that this turn toward Biblical evangelism will grow in America.

This song is a great challenge to the church about our priorities and the dangers of falling into the trap of materialism.

Salvation.....Great!!

Discipling our Children

The moral decline of our society is blatant and obvious to both the Christian and non-Christian alike. Some think that we can mandate morality through some political means or other attempt to force Biblical morality upon an unwilling people. Some of us Christians live so like the world, and are suprised when our children follow in turn. And yet others choose to do nothing, after all...it is out of our hands.

As a parent these issues are paramount to me. And over the course of the last year, the Lord has really been dealing with my husband and me about how we are raising our children. We both have had some radical ideas coming to us....so radical indeed that we hesitated to approach each other with them, only to find the other had the same exact feelings on it.

As parents we have more power than we know. We are given amazing gifts and opportunities pertaining to our children. God cares very much how these children will be raised, and gives us instruction as to how we are to see to it. Proverbs 22:6 delares, "Train a child in the way he should go,and when he is old he will not turn from it." Note, it doesn't say "ship your kids to church to learn about me", or "send them to a teacher to be educated". It is a mandate to parents....it is our responsibility, and our unique position to rear and disciple our own children. And it starts from day one. It is through the lifetime of the child that the parent models for them the unfailing love of God, the trustworthiness and truth of His Word, and the way that a child of God should live. It isn't any wonder that study after study with teens has declared that the most important influence on their life is their parents.

But this goes even deeper. Scripture declares that when we do this the right way, this instruction will trickle down to all of our future generations. Psalm 78:2-6 says,
2 I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

3 what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.


Here's where it gets radical. We must raise our children in a profoundly different way than that of their peer generation. We must set them apart through the teaching of Biblical virtues, and modeling of a Christian life. It does absolutely no good to teach them things that we are unwilling to attempt to live out. It also, if I may be so bold, does little good to teach them a Biblical worldview when an entirely contrary and morally defunct view is being modeled before them 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I recognize the implications here. I am not sure that even the most well meaning and good intentioned of my generation's Christian families did enough to prepare their children to face the world through Christ. I feel that many parents of recent generations have assumed that this would be done in Sunday school or through one day a week in a church house. No, my friends. The Bible clearly expresses that the discipling of children in the Lord is the responsibility of those rearing the child (ideally parents). Furthermore, it is a 24/7 job, and the most important we are given. And I admit....I am totally enept to do it. I must in this instance trust in the Lord I love to guide us and keep us in this endeavor. I will say, however, that the church family and a network of other Christian families is vital in the pursuit of discipling children. It often takes a tremendous effort by the parents to at the least somewhat distant those relationships which are harmful to the task of discipling our children.

I really don't believe that most parents of our Christian generation are willing to do what it takes to make this happen, or give up what it takes to see it through. Again, we are so not there yet. But I will say I believe the number is growing who the Lord has dealt with on this issue and are taking up the cross of discipling and teaching their children. This is one reason why I feel homeschooling is such an important step in this task. We need to teach them to think about what they learn, rather than just digest what is being given to them. They need to be able to by faith and reason discern the things that are told to them. When this is the case, the world will see the difference in our little ones, and they will be primed and positioned to make a difference for the cause of Christ.

Ref.
Gen. 18:18-19, Psalm 145:4, Joel 1:3, Deut. 4:9-10

New Homeschool Blog

Check out my new homeschooling blog!!!



www.homeschoolfreedom.blogspot.com

Love of God video...can't help it....I love these lyrics!

Sing Along!

(1) The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.



CHORUS:

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall for evermore endure

The saints' and angels' song.



(2) When years of time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men, who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call,

God's love so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam's race-The saints' and angels' song.



(3) Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry.

Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.

Majesty

Psalm 19:1 The Heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Video on Foxe's Book of the Martyrs

Following Christ

"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me"(Mk. 8:34). Sometimes we wish we could take a black marker and blot out the words of the Bible that are hardest to take. This verse is certainly one of the hardest sayings of the Bible to me. "Deny myself?" Wait a minute, I thought God wanted me to be happy! "Take up my cross?" Hold on, certainly that isn't necessary. "Follow Christ?" Check back later; I'm awfully busy. As silly as this seems, It should sound really familiar. I wonder how many times Christ recieves this response from us. Consider the examples given in Luke 9:57-62(NIV):

"As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him,"I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus replied,"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." He said to another man, "Follow Me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family." Jesus replied, " No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Christ exemplified sacrifice and service in His life. He modeled what is desired of us, and no one could ever say He had an easy life. Not to say that all of us are called to be martyrs for the faith, but all of us are called to place Christ ahead of everything in our lives. When you truly and openly do this, you will begin to notice a change in the people around you. The world will place your life under a microscope, and when, as is certain, you turn out to be less then perfect, the people around you feel justified in their rejection of Christ. Many of your friends start fading into the background, because you aren't as much fun as you used to be, and after all, they don't want to hear about any of that "religion stuff." Your own family may even begin to see you as offensive, and begin to feel uncomfortable around you. I guarantee this will happen to some degree if you stand up for Christ. For doesn't Christ say in Matt. 10:34-37:
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me."

If you then do as you should and read your Bible, pray, attend church, and share your faith, you will find that the enemy makes it harder for you. To top that all off, you will have times of utter weakness, and bitter despair. You are asked to love those that persecute you, and to share the gospel of Christ with people who would probably rather recieve a giant stack of bills as to have you mention the Bible. You might even have days that you doubt your faith, or buy into a teaching that isn't true. The enemy will go to great lengths to discourage you from growing into the miracle God is making in you.

So where is the good news? It is freedom from sin and an enduring peace. We are never alone, because the Holy Spirit is sent to those who put their faith in Christ. He instructs in righteousness, gives wisdom and other spiritual gifts, strength in times of weakness, comfort in times of sorrow, unspeakable joy that the world can't comprehend, and countless other benefits. We have the eternal love of a beautiful Savior. We are promised an everlasting life in the presence of the God we serve and love. When we pray, we know that through Christ we are heard. We know that when we reach the eternal shores of heaven that the ones that left this earth before us in Christ will be there with us, and we will never suffer again. For the Lord says as He is about to be taken to His death in John 17:20-24:
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them and You in Me; that they may be perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."

When we see ourselves for the first time in the mirror of God's holiness, we see a vile, helpless sinner. Then, we see Christ suffering on the cross, and we find grace. Upon being born again, we see the world through new eyes. There is a contentment and a joy that cannot be had but through Christ. In trials we gain wisdom and inhuman strength, and we see a blessing in all situations. Even the sting of death has been taken away by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life.

Another great blessing, is that the Lord will use your life to show the light of Christ to all the people around you. You will be given opportunities to share your joy, and defend the Word of God. When you are bold for Christ, people see your passion and want to know more. When God plants the seed of His Word, hearts are convicted and people turn to Christ(Rom.10:17). The angels rejoice every time a sinner repents and trusts in Jesus(Lk. 15:10).

Let's be bold for Christ! When someone says something that isn't true about your husband, wife, child, father, or mother, any of us would defend the truth about them and get it straight. But, sadly, when it comes to Jesus, people fold to the lost world in fear of offending someone and let the lie continue in their presence. Over the years, this has led to thousands of different doctrines, and a "do-your-own-thing" Christianity. The only way to combat this domino effect and weakening church image is one Christian at a time, making the decision to obey the Word and stand up for Jesus.

The Lord says, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in Heaven(Matt.10:32-33)." When a Christian, or the Church for that matter, agrees with the world and not the Word, they are denying Christ. In John chapter one, Christ Himself is referred to as the Word. He says in John 7:38: "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." There is only one Christ, and He is the One detailed in the Holy inerrant Scriptures; there is no other.

What does it mean to confess Him? The word "confess", translated from the aforementioned Matthew verse, comes from the Greek homologeo meaning to give a confession, to give thanks, covenant, acknowledgement, or promise. Christ asks for you to acknowledge Him publicly and without shame. Christ asks you to believe the Word of testimony, in other words, believe in Him as the Scripture states. Many who claim to know Christ, profess a different Christ than that of the scriptures. They have in their own minds the Jesus of their choosing, one who is all happiness and peace and no Lord, God and Savior. For there is no other than the one contained in Holy Scripture, Amen! Christ wants you to confess Him even if it means your freedom or your life. Thousands of faithful Christians have heeded this, and have been imprisoned or killed for confessing the Christ of Scripture as Lord.

Ask yourself this question...would you confess Christ under any circumstance? How about if you are a teenager out with some friends and others are pressuring you to do things that you know are wrong? What if your place of work is having a party where you know many will be overindulging and you will be pressured to behave in like manner? How about if you are in a group of people talking badly about someone? What if your family or friends pressures you to do something against your convictions? And as a final example, what if your life or the life of your loved ones were threatened unless you denied Christ? I have been guilty myself of making the wrong choice in a few of these examples, and many more that aren't listed here.

We must be vigilant and prayerful, carefully monitoring ourselves, especially in tricky situations. The decisions that you make in these times affect the witness for Christ that you show the world. In other words, as a professing Christian, you are representing Him here on earth. Others know it if you have publicly confessed Him, so they are more aware of your choices than you realize. Perhaps if we take this responsibility as seriously as we should, the image of Christianity will be far better for it.

Love of God

The Love of God (Frederick M. Lehman)

(1) The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.

CHORUS:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall for evermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

(2) When years of time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race-The saints' and angels' song.

(3) Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.